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Subject:Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: edmund Sun, Aug 21, 2011 IP: 166.205.142.6

I've inherited several wonderful pieces of art. They appear to be South or Southeast Asian. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could identify the type of art, and if possible, value. The signature looks something like Kuswadji. I've included a detail of the signature.
Thank you







Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Cal Mon, Aug 22, 2011

Fabric colored (watercolor?) to look a little like Indonesian batik but is not.

So items made Indonesia.

Check this listing of artists for name possibilities.

http://www.the-art-world.com/artists-indonesia.htm

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: edmund Tue, Aug 23, 2011

I greatly appreciate your posting. I checked the artists' site using your url. There are are very few artists listed there, especially none named Kuswadji (i'm not even sure I'm reading the signature correctly). Am I in the right forum? Can you suggest one more likely to have familiarity with the artist/work? I've got to admit, I'm having trouble making my way around here, as I can't even find my postings via search. Only the url from emails I'm receiving gets me back here. So please forgive me for my naivete, I would greatly appreciate your help steering me in the right direction.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: adri Tue, Jul 03, 2018

This artist is an indonesian artist who made mostley batiks, I bought one of his works in Djojakarta (Java) I think he live there because I bougt it in his shop.Hiis adres is;
kuswadjik
Jl. Alun-Alun Utara
Pojok Barat Daya
Phone : 4995
Yogyakarta - Indonesia

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Aug 22, 2011

These look like decorative batik panels from Indonesia, perhaps Bali. However, I'm unfamiliar with individual artisans there.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: edmund Tue, Aug 23, 2011

Thank you for your response. The previous responder did not think these are batik at all, but rather watercolors. Is there anywhere you could suggest that would help me identify these pieces? I really like them, and am willing to research them, but I've tried many message boards, and feel like I'm at a dead end. Is it likely, then, that these are inexpensive works by an unknown? If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Cal Wed, Aug 24, 2011

Inexpensive works by unknown sometimes become early works by artist later better known.

Are many thousands of artists in China, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam . . . try make a little money sell to tourists. Some good/interesting, most not.

You may have to be satisfied for now with just liking them.

Good luck,
Cal

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: mikeoz Mon, Aug 22, 2011

I suggest that you look to Java, Indonesia. Yogyo is a centre of traditional culture in Java, and the imagery has Hindu influences, and is similar to art you would expect to see in Bali.

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Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Edmund Tue, Aug 23, 2011

Thank you so much for your reply and helping me narrow down my search. Are you suggesting I should try another forum/subforum? I'm not sure how to follow up on your information.
Regards, Edmund

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Roger Wed, Aug 24, 2011

"Yogya" is the nick-name for Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and this is a typical product of the batik industry there. The "veins" in the white circle confirm that it is indeed batik. Although it is an attractive decorative piece, such art is produced in the thousands for the tourist markets in Yogykarta, Bali, and Anchol in Jakarta. Artists sign their own names but since most have ony one name (no family name), further Identification would be almost impossibe.

Roger

Pictured is a batik & art workshop in Yogyakarta



Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: edsight Wed, Sep 07, 2011

Thanks for your help with this Roger. They do nice work there - and thank you as well for identifying the Batik characteristic. I had a feeling this was produced in that sort of fashion - I certainly couldn't find anything out about the 'Kuswadji' signature. Regards.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Henri C. de Villaloup Sun, Oct 02, 2011

Kuswadji (the father) was an artist, famous for his 'batik' masterpieces of traditional inspiration. He lived in Java - more especially in Djogdjakarta. He participated in shows in Europe and even in New-York, I was told. His sons followed his tracks, with other or more modern inspiration and style . I bought one batik from Kuswadji in 1978 in Djogdjakarta. Very nice. The name was famous there by that time.
Regards
Henri

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: edmund Mon, Oct 03, 2011

Thanks a lot, Henri. I appreciate your history. I'm glad to hear he's a reputable artist.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Dave Roberts Tue, Oct 01, 2013

The artist is Kuswadji. K, who had his studio at Kadipaten (Mangkubumen) 1/ 342 Yogyakarta Indonesia. Born December 12th 1914. In 1957 he was the pioneer of using Batik as the medium for painting and in 1963 he was the pioneer who modernised the technical dyeing of batik. In the 1970's he exhibitedin Europe, Holland, Germany & France. He used man made dyes instead of the traditional natural dyes, which have tended to fade with age. I visited him in his studio in 1977. when I was living in Sulawesi and bought 'The Queen of the South Sea', which I think is the subject of the picture shown. Hope this is of interest to you.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: David Mon, Oct 12, 2015

I purchased 2 similar batiks from the artist personally in Yogjakarta in 1975 while traveling around the world as a student/at that time he handed me a copy pf his "biography",which I still have..
I will type a reproduction.
CAPITALS LETTERS are from artist himself.
Hope this is useful. I have no idea as the the present day
value of pieces in the market place of life!

"Classical and Contemporary Batik Paintings Studio"
KUSWADJI. K.
Kadipaten 1/342
Yogyakarta,Indonesia
--Biography of Artist
-Kuswadjit Kawindrasusanta is the fifth son of R.M. Purwaatmadja
--Born on December 12,1941 on Dalem Kadipaten 1/342 Yogyakarta
--Education: Second Grade in "Schakeel School" Taman Siswa Yogyakarta
--1935 used to be an official of Sultan's Palace and assistnt at Sana Budaya Museum in Yogyakarta
--1946 studied in Letters Faculty of Gadjah Mada University of Yogyakarta
--1951 ask by Yogyakarta Local Government to be an official of Education and Cultural Department
--1957 was the PIONEER OF BATIK PAINTING.
--1960 asked by Jakarta Cental Government to be an official of Art Directorate in Folk Performances & Narator (dalang) section
--1963--was the Pioneer to modernize the traditional Batik and at the same time wrote "The History of Batik".
--1965(September) The first exhibition of the new batik creation at Sana Budya Museum Yogyakarta
--1969 USE TO BE AN ADVISOR AND BUILDER OF BATIK RESEARCH INSTITUTE CENTER OF YOGYAKARTA.
--1972 His paintings were exhibited by Indonesian Cultural Attache in Italy.
--1973(July) The second exhibition of the new batik creation at Sana Art Gallery Yogyakarta.
--1973 The second exhibition of his paintings in Europe which was sponsored by Indonesian Cultural Attache in Holland.
--1074(May) The third exhibition in Europe at International Kunstausstelung Berlin,West Germany.
1974 (September) The fourth exhibition in Europe sponsored by Fred Maire in Munich West Germany
1974(November) The fifth exhibitionin Europe sponsored by Serge Le Guennan in Paris,France.
1975(February) The sixth exhibition in Europe sponsored by
Serge Le Guennan in Paris France.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Tom Sat, Apr 07, 2012

For more info see website: http://painters.tomenels.nl

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Ann Dyball Wed, Sep 03, 2014

Yes these are Kuswadji's. I have one. He's better known in the Netherlands. I doubt they are worth much, because most people who haven't been to Joyja (and many who have) won't have heard of him.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Ning Tue, Oct 14, 2014

The 3 batik paintings above are indeed by Indonesian batik artist Kuswadji. We own 2 of them, circa 1976; very similar style of multi cloloured batik art as depicted above.
FYI I grew up In Yogyakarta & personally knew Kuswadji's Sales Manager in the 70s & 80s, Nurdin Noor. He can be contacted via Linkedin. On the last painting, Kuswadji signed Yogya, short for Yogyakarta.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: els Tue, Nov 04, 2014

We have similar paintings.
We think they are batik paintings from Kuswadji

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: John Onderdonk Mon, Apr 19, 2021

Kuswadji was a very traditional Batik Artist based in Yogyakarta. He was pretty old (or seemed so) when I met him in 1976.
The top image represents the goddess of the harvest. She is assisted by the snake, who helps the harvest by eating the rats that pilfer the rice.

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Robert Sat, Mar 05, 2022

my father -in -law is one of the children of kuswadji, he has many collections and is the heir of kuswadji's artwork

Subject:Re: Please help me identify these art pieces (Kuswadji?)
Posted By: Bill Sat, Dec 23, 2023

I have 2 that I bought from Kuswadji himself in 1975. I actually bought 10 and sold 8 on my return to Australia. The artist was famous at the time with regard to his OS exhibitions so they must be worth something? Any one know the value?


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